News

Blending corporate values, teambuilding, community service and fun, seven employees of Wachovia's Warner Robins Financial Center gathered on Saturday, Oct. 11, to help Connie Royal build her Habitat for Humanity home.

Welcomed at the work site by John Sillers, Houston County Habitat for Humanity executive director and construction supervisor, the group installed windows, doors and siding during the day-long session.

"It was wonderful to meet Connie," commented Emily Winkle, a financial specialist at the bank. "She's so excited to have her own home and it gave me a great feeling to be here working alongside her."

Wachovia offers its employees the opportunity to use four hours of company time each month to volunteer in their community. But for this project, the employees served on their own time.

Brian Hartley, a financial specialist, expressed the appeal of working for a corporation where employee volunteerism is a priority. "It's a lightning rod-like attraction to be part of a corporation that values giving back to the community the bank serves," he said. "We are more than a bank doing business here. We want to be seen as an important part of the whole community."

Brooke Phillips, financial center manager, said she immediately recognized the greater camaraderie in the office after the experience. "This did so much for our team," she said. "We all see each other differently after handing nails to each other and holding boards in place. We had fun, but best of all is that good feeling from helping Connie build her home. What a wonderful lady!"

The volunteers were grateful for how the Habitat crew, especially Sillers, embraced their help. "He's a character," remarked Mandy Ussery, a teller. "He showed us how to put up the siding and then came back a few times to check on us and make sure the nails weren't too tight."

"He was very patient and helpful," said Winkle. "He matched us up with people who knew what to do."
Hartley enjoyed the opportunity to learn building skills. "I learned how to hang a door and install a window," he said. "These guys are so knowledgeable and very willing to share their knowledge. They trusted us to help and learn. I want to do this again and learn other skills."

Working together on a worthy project away from the bank helped the group see each other in unique ways.
"People act differently away from the office where we have our own responsibilities," Ussery noted. "At the Habitat house we worked helping each other directly. I think this improved our office dynamics. It was lots of fun and I want to get my church involved."

Using volunteer labor along with cash and material donations, Houston County Habitat for Humanity builds decent, affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families who currently live in sub-standard housing. The organization sells the house at cost and finances it with a no-interest mortgage over 20 years.
Each partner family must contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" toward building other families' homes and their own.

The affiliate has built 39 homes in Houston County and is in the midst of a $1.2 million project to build 27 homes in Wellston Villas in Warner Robins.